Cats

Ussuri

The Ussuri is a rare natural breed of
cat that
originates from the region of the
Amur river, Russia. It is reputed to be derived from natural hybrids
with small wild cats known as "Amur Forest Cats" and "Amur Leopard Cats"
(Asian Leopard Cat subspecies, the same species used in the Bengal breed).
Semi-wild Ussuris then hybridised naturally with Siberians and
European/Domestic Shorthairs. This hybrid origin is based on conjecture
and their appearance.

The breed is rare even in its native Russia. A translated breed standard for
this and other native breeds was published in the mid 1990s, but nothing has
been heard since that time and its breed status is unclear. The Ussuri's numbers
are dwindling due to interbreeding with local domestic cats and, without a
breeding programme to preserve the strain, it will disappear. However, some
other Russian minority cat breeds such as the Donskoy and Peterbald, whose
standards were published in English at the same time, are now actively bred in
the USA.

Conformation

The ears often have "lynx" brushes. The body is muscular, but not massive.
The neck is firm but not long. The legs are medium length, muscular and in
proportion with firm, rounded paws. The tail has a rounded tip (like the
European Wildcat).

Color & Pattern

The color and modified tabby pattern is a distinctive feature of the breed.
It has vertical solid or merged spots on the body with lines on the forehead and
two or three bronzed lines on cheeks. There should be one or more solid or
broken necklaces of bronzed tone on neck and chest.

Distinct lines are required on the legs with the upper part being of bronzed
color and the lower part of ground color. The tail must be ringed and have a
dark tip of ground color.

There is a dark dorsal stripe. The flank pattern consists of stripes, rings
or spots on golden-brown or goldish-fawn background and bronzed buttons on the
paler belly.